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How to Deal with Bad Weather Conditions When Traveling for Business

When you think you have planned your business trip and organized the
schedules, hotel and ticket bookings and appointments, along comes a snow storm
or other weather element that can ruin all your business travel plans!
Unfortunately there are just some events we cannot plan in business dealings. However
we can learn how to deal with them.

Although we cannot rule the weather conditions, we can avoid being helpless
when having to deal with bad weather. Winter can be long and treacherous but
this does not mean you have to stand and wait for hours at the mercy of a bad
airport organization or impossible blizzard conditions.

First of all consider the responsibilities of the inconvenience you are
sustaining and you will find that in most cases airlines are taken off the hook
when the weather is concerned, this is why you have to take action and take care
of your own interests.

When planning your travel during winter always opt for a non-stop, single
itinerary solution. The more connecting flights you have, the more likely you
are to miss them. The time of day is also important when you want to try and
avoid delays. It has statistically been proven that airports operate better in
the mornings, this is because the delays have not had a chance to line up,
which often is the case in the afternoon. You will also be able to reschedule
your flight for the afternoon if you have a hitch on a morning flight.

Some airports are better equipped for bad weather conditions. You may tend
to choose one airport to avoid bad weather due to its location and find
yourself stranded because that airport just does not know how to handle with
the problem or does not have the equipment needed. So choose your airport
keeping in mind that a few inches of snow may not cripple the air traffic as
much as it could do elsewhere.

Always have a second and third plan ready if you are stranded. Plan out two
additional strategies you can fall back on if you have a setback. Most airlines
now are part of three global alliances the Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star that can
help you plan alternatives on your original route.

Lets face it money can make a difference when there is a crisis and few
places available. Although you may in fact have a right on complimentary
re-routing and accommodation, if you pay upfront you will have immediate access
to what you need. You can worry later about being reimbursed, getting quickly
on another flight or finding an accommodation may make your business deal and
save time and money.

Pack your bags strategically. Whenever you can, avoid checking luggage in,
for if you do have to quickly change airports of itinerary you do not want to
have to wait for your bags to be unloaded from the plane; that can take hours. If
you are connecting on another flight, chances are your luggage will get lost
anyway, so pack sensibly and take a carry-on bag with you at all times.

However if you really are stranded, the best solution can be to simply
surrender to Mother Nature and contact your business contacts in time, this
will avoid you the stress of trying to obtain what at times is impossible, plus
you can re-schedule your meetings on time and with the right frame of mind.